Lila, a student with the soul of a poet, has a speech impediment that renders her nearly mute in front of strangers. Mo is a gruff-but-charismatic drag racer-slash-baker, whose most surprising talent may be how effectively he conceals his own communication difficulty: He can barely read or write. A chance meeting ignites a potential romance for two people from different worlds—if they can just find a way to communicate. But as one character blossoms, the other grows more insecure, challenging these two outsiders to confront just how much of their own comfort they’re willing to give up for love.

Two-time César Award-winning actress Sara Forestier adds writer and director to her credits with this love story about the forces of attraction and the barriers they’re strong enough to break. Working with a stellar crew that includes cinematographer Guillaume Schiffman (The Artist), producer Denis Freyd (Two Days, One Night), and actors Redouanne Harjane and Jean-Pierre Léaud, the legend of French New Wave cinema, Forestier delivers a finely tuned romance anchored by a deep-feeling portrayal of a girl struggling with a debilitating limitation. M is presented in association with Venice Days.

—Frédéric Boyer

Directed by

Sara Forestier